Page 77 of Bound By My Father's Best Friend

“I don’t take you as a fool.” I straightened my back to show him that he couldn’t intimidate me. “But I’d like to know what you’re trying to accuse me of before responding because whatever you think I’m doing, I’m not.”

Every day, my relationship with Heather was becoming a more and more dangerous game that could cost us both everything. But it was a game that I wasn’t going to quit; it was one that I had become addicted to.

Jacob tightened his jaw. “You’re sleeping with my ex-wife.”

I blew out a sigh of relief. “No, I’m not.”

He didn’t pull his gaze away. “First, she came into our office during our quarterly meeting to talk toyou. Next, she got very flirty during the Christmas party. Then, you decided to stay after I left. What time did you even get home on Saturday night?”

“She was not flirting with me during the Christmas party. She was being friendly.”

“I’ve never seen her be that friendly with you,” he said.

“I don’t know what to tell you. I’m not sleeping with her.”

“You’d better not be lying to me, Hector, because secrets have a way of slithering out.”

My gaze became distant again, focusing on Heather heading to her desk outside the office windows.Shewas my deepest secret, but I really didn’t know how long it would be before that secret slithered out. Her confession in my car on Saturday night had set a fire within me.

The memory of snow drifting down around us, her leaning closer and whispering that she loved me.Me!A man twice her age, whose best friend was her own father, and whose worst fear was losing her.

“I’m not lying to you,” I said. “But why does who I date matter to you? In case you’ve forgotten, you came to my house the other night, half drunk off your ass, stressed out about being involved with Evelyn.”

Jacob stiffened. “Evelyn is a different matter. This is my ex-wife.”

“So? Do you still have feelings for her?”

“No, of course not.” Jacob grabbed his coffee mug. “But if you started dating her, then our business partnership would become messy. And we have something really good. This company is growing faster than any other ones I’ve run.”

Well, if he only knew …

“I’m not dating your ex-wife”—I’m dating your daughter—“so you don’t have to worry.”

CHAPTERFORTY-FOUR

HEATHER

“Heather,”Dad beckoned from his office. “Come here. I’d like to talk to you.”

My mouth dried, and I pushed back my swivel chair from the makeshift desk that Dad had set up for me tolearn the ropesof this business. I peered through his office windows at Hector, who sat slouched in a chair across from Dad’s desk, rubbing his forehead.

Oh my God. If he knows …

After shuffling some papers and stacking them neatly on my desk to buy myself some time, I smoothed out my skirt and headed toward his open door. Evelyn shot me a pitiful look, and I wanted to make a break for the elevators, but I forced myself to continue walking.

“How’s it going today, sweetheart?” Dad asked when I walked into the room.

I shot Hector a glance, but he barely looked in my direction.

Damn it, this seems worse than I thought!

Even if we waited a hundred years, I didn’t think that I would be ready for this conversation. How could I tell Dad that I was dating his best friend and business partner, who was twice my age and into BDSM?!

“It’s going good,” I whispered, almost unable to breathe. “Why?”

“Just wondering,” he hummed. “I had a conversation with your mother on Saturday.”

Did Mom rat me out?! She was so cool with it!

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